Training Supervisors to be Effective, Law-Abiding Members of the Union-Avoidance Team: Second Annual Labor Relations Conference

Labor organizations and unions have sharpened their focus on changing aspects of the workplace that make a union seemingly more attractive. They're marketing their approach better, using sophisticated messages to appeal to a wider, more varied audience. From pickets to pleadings, most of our speakers have been on the front lines defending corporations against today's union organizers and other labor relations challenges, and they will explain how to successfully and proactively defend against union encroachment while remaining within the law.  Our luncheon speaker, Professor Jennings, will examine ethical issues facing the HR professional.

"Business Ethics for the HR Professional," will be given by noted author and lecturer Professor Marianne Jennings of ASU.

Ms. Jennings is a professor at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University where she teaches courses in the MBA program in business ethics and the legal environment of business.  She has authored more than 130 articles and currently has six textbooks and monographs in circulation. Her weekly columns are syndicated around the country, and her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and Washington Post. She was given an Arizona Press Club award for her work as a feature columnist and has been a commentator on business issues on All Things Considered for National Public Radio.

Jack W. Milligan SPHR is a partner in Leathers Milligan & Associates LLC and is the SHRM Arizona State Council Director for 2005-06.  His background includes almost 20 years in employment and labor relations with ITT Corporation and he has 15 years in Human Capital Consulting experience.

Confirmed speakers include:

Charlyn Jarrells Porter is Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.  She is charged with the strategic planning and execution of all diversity initiatives for the Corporation.  Charlyn began her career at Wal-Mart in the legal department where she handled labor relations and employment matters.

Kay Hoogland is the Vice President and Corporate Director of Global Diversity for Motorola, Inc. Previously she served as Vice President and Senior Counsel in the Motorola Law Department, providing legal advice in the area of labor relations and employment law.

Catharine Ellingsen is Managing Corporate Counsel for Allied Waste Industries, Inc., a Scottsdale-based Fortune 500 company with more than 26,000 employees and operations in 38 states.  Catherine is responsible for managing labor relations matters for Allied Waste and its subsidiaries.

Mike Whiting is General Manager of the Recreation Centers of Sun City West, Inc.  Previously he served for 15 years as Central District Administrator for the City of Phoenix and 17 additional years in Senior Management positions.  Most of Mike's experience involves labor management issues.

Daryl Valdez is the owner and president of Mid Valley Labor Consulting Associates, Inc.  Prior to starting his own firm he held various senior management positions in Human Resources in firms with multi-state and multi-discipline environments.  He has over 30 years of successful experience dealing with preventive labor relations among diverse employee groups.

Speakers from STEPTOE & Johnson LLP 

Larry Katz
Monica Goebel
Mark Kisicki
Steve Wheeless
Lynda Zengerle

Larry, Monica, Mark, and Steve are partners in Steptoe & Johnson's Phoenix office, where they represent employers in all aspects of practice under the National Labor Relations Act, including union avoidance, union elections and NLRB proceedings. They also negotiate collective bargaining agreements and arbitrate grievances under those agreements. Larry successfully argued the seminal case of Bill Johnson's Restaurants v. NLRB case in the U.S. Supreme Court, which established the employer's right to sue a labor union for defamatory statements made during otherwise protected activities, such as picketing or strikes.

Lynda Zengerle is a partner in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where she heads the Immigration Law practice.  Ms. Zengerle has over two decades of experience representing corporations and individuals in immigration matters.